Green Lantern Digital Movie Review

Despite what critics have said and the movie's mediocre run at the box office, Green Lantern, is still a great movie.  The extended cut digital edition available via iTunes, featuring additional minutes and more goodies, should be enjoyed by diehard fans and adds more depth to the origin story.  If you've skipped the movie altogether, this review should entice you to check it out.

Like many fans, we were all excited to finally see one of the mainstays of DC Comics' most popular characters, on the big screen. After all, Green Lantern's comic-book serves as the epicenter for all intergalactic activity within the company's universe.  Our expectations were high as it relates to seeing the entire Green Lantern Corps flying around and performing moves with their rings. Granted we weren't sure if we were going to see the entire GLCorps anyway.

CG-costumes or not, the results were adequate and you couldn't really expect the studio to do more than they could with all the special effects, given the relatively poor popularity of the character compared to Batman and Superman. Oa, the base of the Green Lantern Corps, was breathtaking indeed but seemed too barren than compared the comic-book portrayals. You'd expect to be tripping over other Green Lanterns left and right, especially during the scenes where Kilowog and Sinestro are testing Hal Jordan. Perhaps the darkness of space as the main light source added to that solemness.

The movie as you would expect, is an origin story with only slight but forgiving deviations from the original comic-book story.  You get to see young Hal Jordan witness his father's death and his early interactions with future love interest, Carol Ferris and Hector Hammond. Hector Hammond is one of the villains along with Parallax. Using Parallax as one of the villains deviates from Jordan's original story of taking the mantle as the Green Lantern.

Sinestro informs the Guardians of a Lantern's death

Green Lantern rescues Carol Ferris

The story is otherwise on a decent pace in explaining the existence of the Guardians and the rise of Hector Hammond as a villain. The presentation of Thaal Sinestro as a loyal Green Lantern is nicely done. Hopefully, casual fans will get to see the act of treachery commits when he turns against the Guardians and Jordan. That is, if they decide to continue the movie with sequels. The inclusion of Amanda Waller was a nice touch as well. I can understand why they chose Parallax as a villain so as not to further muck up the original stories and perhaps get more people angry. Furthermore, I thought they followed through as best they could with the portrayal of the Green Lantern characters.

Acclaimed writer and editor Dennis O'Neil

The Green Lantern iTunes digital edition provides viewers with the extended cut, deleted scenes and a feature showcasing Green Lantern's background. Witness past writers, artists and others over the years, describe the impact the character has had. Some of the deleted scenes feature Ryan Reynolds in pre-CGI costume. I only wish these deleted scenes were added to the movie on the home video version and not as a separate feature. Viewers will be impressed with this offering and should give the movie a second chance as well.

Final Verdict: B